Space Shuttle STS-133 Discovery…viewed from the sky

Following some last minute delays, on February 24, 2011, the Space Shuttle STS-133 Discovery launched for the 39th and final time.

The space agency is under a presidential direction to retire the space shuttle fleet of three (including Atlantis and Endeavor) this summer and let private companies take over trips that orbit while NASA will focus on getting astronauts to asteroids and Mars.

The same morning, a plane that had been delayed from Orlando was lucky enough to witness the sight and at least one man captured it and posted it online.

While the passenger recorded the launch on his iPhone, the plane’s captain said to passengers over the loudspeaker, “Those on the right side can see the space shuttle. Those on the left side can probably see the people on the right side looking at the space shuttle.”Truly that is life in the fast lane.